Random Thoughts on Relief

Genesis, Chapter 5.

The naming of Noah...  Noah, according to the geneology found in Chapter 5, is the tenth generation to live (if I've counted right).  When he is born, his father Lamech names him Noah, saying "Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil of our hands." (NRSV)

Did he now?  Looking ahead (I'm assuming everyone reading this has heard the story of Noah - if not read ahead a few chapters) we see how the Lord brought relief.  God destroyed every living being on the face of the earth, except for those in the ark.  Usually when we read this story, especially as we tell it to the children, it is a picture of hope.  But, for those who were destroyed - not such a nice picture.

Relief comes in many forms, sometimes it comes in the form of renewed life.  I had a friend who once told me that her life had been so chaotic she begged God for a brief reprieve.  According to her - God gave her 3 days of immediate reprieve - of relief.  She was most grateful.  Sometimes relief comes only in death.  I think that maybe new and renewed life insists upon death of the old life.  I have been witnessing an upswing lately in sickness:  physical, spiritual, emotional and mental illnesses.  It is not such a nice picture for those who are suffering.  Where can they seek relief?  Who will help them?        

We know the rest of the story.  By reading ahead in the story of Noah we find relief of God's creation came by the washing - the drowning - by water in the flood.  I can think, this morning, of no better way to find relief than to remember our baptisms, to remember that we have already been drowned in the waters, and brought forth for new life in the kindom.  Through the washing and the Word we have been made children of God.  The old man drowned - the new man lives.  (please note - when I refer to man - I usually mean humankind - a habit I don't feel the need to break)

Through Noah, there was indeed relief, but there was a cost.  Through Jesus Christ, we too have found relief.  But, there is indeed a cost.  Jesus had to die that we might live.  And as D. Bonhoeffer wrote (one of my favorite quotes): "when Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die."  In order to live, we must die to self.  It may be painful to give up those things that we like to do so much, things of this world, but when we begin to walk with God (as Enoch and Noah did) we will find relief.

Keep digging into this chapter - there really is a lot there - think a little about Enoch of the 7th generation and his walk with God - but - these are my brief and random thoughts for this morning - my schedule calls.  May God grant you relief from the trials of this world, as you walk in His presence this and every day.